Compare towns

Dedham vs Tyringham vs Needham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Tyringham has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureDedhamTyringhamNeedham
People
Population
25,237
494Lowest
32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
—
+11.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
12% above MA
59.2±2.7Highest
48% above MA
43.1±1.6Lowest
8% above MA
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
8.7%±5.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
27.5%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
21.9%±2
MA: 17.9%
35.2%±8.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
66.3%
MA: 47.3%
81.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10kLowest
24% above MA
$163,333±$28k
57% above MA
$214,308±$13kHighest
106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16kLowest
18% above MA
$699,400±$96k
24% above MA
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182
16% above MA
$1,050±$393Lowest
40% below MA
$2,409±$183Highest
37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918
32% above MA
$4,632Lowest
23% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10
MA: 51.8%
60%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
55.9%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Tyringham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Highest
MA: 10%
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
3.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
36 minHighest
23% above MA
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
20%±2.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
26.2%±8
MA: 18.6%
32.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Needham and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 282 in MA — #19 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham — Needham
High school in town Dedham High — Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
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MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.